VMI Downs W&L in Lee-Jackson Classic
from press release
LEXINGTON, Va. – Tim Moran scored five
goals and Jacob Weimer notched the game-winner with seven and a
half minutes to play as the VMI Keydets won the 2009 Lee-Jackson
Lacrosse Classic, 15-13, over the Washington & Lee Generals
Friday night at Wilson Field in Lexington. The victory was only
VMI's third-ever in the event; the Keydets also won in 1988 and
2005.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, featuring multiple ties and
lead changes, the two teams played a rough, physical first half of
the final quarter. Finally at the 7:31 mark, Weimer was able to get
free to the right of Generals' netminder Ned Lundvall to give VMI a
12-11 lead, an advantage it would not relinquish.
After a defensively oriented first several minutes before a crowd
of nearly 900 fans, VMI opened the scoring with a goal by Moran at
6:39 of the opening period. Moran's linemate Brett Leonard then set
up the game's second goal by finding Keith Long with a pass at the
top of the key. Long fired a shot top shelf, beating the W&L
goalkeeper to make it 2-0, which was the score after one
period.
The Keydets took command of the first half with two early goals in
the second period. Leonard struck again, this time scoring off a
pass from Moran at the 12:58 mark. That pushed the visitors lead to
3-0, and it grew even further just eight seconds later. Off the
resultant face-off, VMI midfielder Stephen Robarge grabbed the
groundball and was able to take it in himself, firing a shot past
the W&L netminder to make it 4-0.
The Generals came right back, as Will Keigler tallied the first of
his three goals to make it 4-1, but Weimer responded with a marker
just 30 seconds later, pushing the lead back to four, 5-1. W&L
then went on a three-goal run over the next six minutes, chopping
the lead to just one, 5-4, on a goal by Spence Daw with 5:10
remaining the opening half.
Moran scored again for VMI with 4:41 on the clock, making it 6-4,
but W&L responded again, cutting the lead back to a single
score, 6-5, on a Drew Koeneman score with 35 seconds left in the
half. Moran answered, splitting multiple General defenders and
getting off a powerful shot while falling down, a shot that found
the back of the net to give VMI a 7-5 lead at halftime.
The Keydets controlled the pace in the first half, as despite being
outshot 26-18, VMI outgained W&L in groundballs by eight,
21-13. VMI also dominated in the face-off X, winning 9 of 13 in the
first 30 minutes of action.
The opening minutes of the third quarter saw Keoneman and Moran
trade goals again, making it 8-6 at the 12:54 mark of the third. In
the sixth minute of third period play, W&L had a two-goal run
that tied the game for the first time, 8-8 with 9:08 left in the
third. VMI answered less than a minute later, as a long pass
downfield found Brett Leonard. Leonard executed a perfect one-touch
pass to Colin Bosse, who found the back of the net to put VMI back
up, 9-8.
That lead lasted only to the 6:48 mark, as Cooper Brown tied the
game for the home team, and less than a minute later, Keigler gave
the Generals the lead for the first time, 10-9. That lead lasted
exactly 53 seconds, as Drew Leonard scored while falling down near
the crease. After an official's consultation, the goal stood and
VMI had tied the score, 10-10. W&L would retake the lead at the
4:01 mark, but Brett Leonard scored with 2:31 left in the period to
knot the game, 11-11, and set up Weimer's goal midway through the
final period.
Following the eventual game-winner, Moran scored his fifth goal of
the night off a pass from Long, making it 13-11. The Generals got
back within a goal, as Max Mancuso scored with 6:04 to go, but VMI
put the game away with a two-goal spurt. The mini-run was capped by
Long's second goal of the game, a score that came with 1:30
remaining. Koeneman would notch his fourth goal with 1:03 left to
account for the final margin, 15-13.
"I'm impressed with both teams. I think Coach McCabe did a great
job getting his guys ready to go, and they played well," said VMI
head coach Jeff Shirk. "I'm excited about what we did today.
W&L fought back, and even went up by a goal. We never put our
heads down, we fought back and we found a way to finally win this
thing. Our seniors this year are a great group, and they deserve
this. This ends the fall on a very high note, and gives us
motivation to work hard going into the spring season."
This year's edition of the Lee-Jackson Classic was a hard-fought
battle, as the contest featured 13 penalties. VMI was led by
Moran's five goals and two assists, while the Generals were paced
by Keigler, who had three goals and four assists. For their
efforts, Moran and Keigler were named the winners of the
Worrell-Fallon award, given to the Most Valuable Players from each
team.
"Tim has the ability to take this team on his shoulders," said
Coach Shirk. "I think we now have guys who are willing and able to
follow him, so he doesn't have to do it all by himself. He's our
leader though, and you certainly saw that tonight."
Other offensive leaders for VMI included Weimer, who had three
scores in Friday's action. Long and Brett Leonard each scored
twice, while Bosse, Robarge and Drew Leonard were each credited
with a single goal. Sean McCoy made 14 saves in net for the Keydets
in earning the victory.
In addition to Keigler, Koeneman led the Generals with four goals
on the night and Daw had three goals for the home team.
VMI lacrosse is scheduled to open its spring season Saturday, Feb.
13 at Annapolis, Md. by taking on perennial power Navy. Game time
is currently scheduled for noon.
